Largest Room for the Best Price in the Financial District Don’t let the exterior façade of the Gild Hall fool you. It’s quite unassuming and architecturally uninspired. But walk through the doors and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. This is one of the largest standard rooms I’ve ever had in Manhattan and for a very reasonable [...][Continue Reading...]

The Art of the Good Cocktail, Gangs of NY Style If you enjoy watching a good bartender do what they love, and you understand the history behind America’s old school cocktails, you will adore this place. It’s small and intimate and takes you back in time, before Prohibition, to an era where raspberry flavored vodka [...][Continue Reading...]

Domenico’s is a very special part of Utica and an anchor in the neighborhood. It’s a small, shabby chic, coffee shop with good staple coffee and nice espresso. There’s a selection of house made pastries and if you search the tops of the counters you’ll find some really nice gluten-free, organic, healthy treats to go [...][Continue Reading...]

Café Canole is one of the nicest places in this part of upstate New York in which to dine. The name is not pronounced like the pastry (cuh-NOLE-ey), but rather like the last name of the Nole brothers who own it (cuh-NOLE). The Brothers Nole are both well trained and well traveled, including time in [...][Continue Reading...]

Don’t let the inauspicious outside of the building fool you. Beautifully decorated and hip with a huge yet intimate bar, comfortable booths and a cozy patio with fireplace and bocce ball. The food is outstanding and local with options for every taste and restriction. Plenty of vegetarian and vegan, some good gluten free and lots [...][Continue Reading...]

Don’t let the fact that the guys behind the sushi bar are Caucasian Wyoming boys with winter-time beards fool you into thinking the sushi here will be sub-prime. This is artistry and ingenuity at its finest. The setting, a blocks walk off the square, is just enough subdued and upscale that you can dress up [...][Continue Reading...]

The Peery Hotel was built in 1910 in a mix of classic revival and prairie architecture and has remained open as a hotel since then. It was the classy joint to be seen in during the 20s and 30s and is still charming today. The rooms are all a little bit different and range from [...][Continue Reading...]

Ancora is a delightful bit of class in downtown Utica, right on Genesee Street and next door to the Stanley Theater. It’s perfect for dinner before the show, drinks after the show, a date night or a get together for a birthday or shower. There’s outdoor seating in good weather that’s great for people watching and [...][Continue Reading...]

If you’re anywhere between Billings and Missoula, this is a detour you should not miss! The Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa is tucked back near the top of Yellowstone National Park, south ofLivingston MT and it’s like stepping back in time. There are 2 pub style restaurants framing the misty hot springs pool, [...][Continue Reading...]